Portrait of Comedian Cal Wilson Wins Packing Room Prize 2023
The painting is one of 57 finalists for this year's Archibald Prize, Australia's preeminent prize for portraiture.
Andrea Huelin, Clown jewels (2023). Oil on board. 120.2 x 120.1 cm. Courtesy the artist. Image courtesy Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter. Sitter: Cal Wilson.
The Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) today announced Andrea Huelin the winner of the Packing Room Prize 2023 for her portrait of New Zealand-born comedian Cal Wilson.
The AU $3,000 is awarded not by curators and museum directors but by staff who receive, unpack, and hang the entries.
'Andrea's work jumped out at us as soon as it arrived,' said packer Alexis Wildman. 'The bright colours really popped, and we immediately recognised Cal as a familiar face.'
'This is a great, joyful portrait of someone who has brought so much laughter to Australia,' Wildman said.
Huelin was inspired to paint Wilson after seeing her model headpieces she crafted over lockdown on Instagram.
'Her brilliant homemade headpieces on her makeshift stage made me laugh out loud,' Huelin said.
'I'm thrilled that something so frivolous has been immortalised with such grandeur and skill,' Wilson added. 'Who says social media is all bad?'
Huelin's portrait of Wilson is one of 57 finalists for the $100,000 Archibald Prize, which is awarded for the best portrait of a person 'distinguished in art, letters, science or politics' painted by an Australian resident.
Other nominees include Mitch Cairns, Katherine Hattam, and James Powditch for his portrait of actor Sam Neill.
The winner of the Archibald Prize, as well as the winners of the Wynne and Sulman prizes (for 'best landscape painting of Australian scenery or figurative sculpture', and 'best subject, genre painting, or mural' respectively), will be announced on 5 May.
An exhibition of the shortlisted works across all three prizes will take place at AGNSW from 6 May to 13 September. —[O]
